Strawberry plant named &#39;BG-6.3024&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘BG-6.3024’. This new strawberry plant named ‘BG-6.3024’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its uniform fruit shape, very large fruit size, excellent fruit flavor, medium to dark green foliage, and heavy petiole pubescence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BG-6.3024’. This new variety is a result of a controlled cross made in 2006 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry variety designated ‘BG-1975’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,725) and strawberry variety designated ‘BG-219.068’ (a non-patented selection). Due to the combining of the reciprocal seed lots, it is unknown as to which parent variety is the seed parent and which parent variety is the pollen parent. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from a controlled breeding plot in Ventura County, California in the winter of 2008. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in both Siskiyou County, California and San Joaquin County, California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next several years in fruiting fields in Ventura County, California. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘BG-6.3024’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides the needed humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorous plant and maintain fruit quality during the winter and spring production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘BG-6.3024’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

1. Uniform fruit shape;

2. Very large fruit size;

3. Excellent fruit flavor;

4. Medium to dark green foliage; and

5. Heavy petiole pubescence.

The strawberry variety that is believed to be most closely related to the new variety ‘BG-6.3024’ is ‘BG-269’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,628). In side-by-side comparisons to the similar strawberry variety ‘BG-269’, ‘BG-6.3024’ differs by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ ‘BG-269’ (US PP12,628) Fruit color Red Dark red Fruit length/width ratio Slightly longer than broad As long as broad Fruit size (gm) 30.6 (very large) 27.7 (large) Marketable yield (gm/plant) 1,365 1,241 Predominant fruit shape Conical Ranges from globose to conical Plant size Ranges from medium to large Large Foliage size Medium Ranges from medium to large Foliage color Ranges from medium to dark Medium yellow green green Petiole pubescence Ranges from heavy to Ranges from moderate to moderate sparse Fruiting truss pubescence Strong Ranges from medium to weak

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been determined for this new variety.

‘BG-6.3024’ differs from its parents, ‘BG-1975’ and ‘BG-219.068’ by the following combination of characteristics as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 ‘BG-1975’ Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ (US PP17,725) ‘BG-219.068’ Marketable yield 1,365 1,080 953 (gm/plant) Fruit size (grams) 30.6 (very large) 26.6 (medium) 23.0 (small) Plant size Ranges from Ranges from Large medium medium to large to large Fruit color Red Ranges from red Orange red to orange red

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-6.3024’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical descriptions which accurately describe the color of ‘BG-6.3024’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘BG-6.3024’ are approximately six months old. The photographs were taken in Ventura County, California:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BG-6.3024’, taken in the month of April 2013;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘BG-6.3024’, taken in the month of April 2013;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘BG-6.3024’, taken in the month of April 2013; and

FIG. 4 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristics of ‘BG-6.3024’, taken in the month of April 2013.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘BG-6.3024’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety ‘BG-6.3024’ may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location. In addition, the characteristics of any parental variety or comparison variety included in Tables 1-9 of the present invention may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following description of the new variety ‘BG-6.3024’, unless otherwise noted, are based on observations taken during the 2013 growing season in Ventura County, California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of ‘BG-6.3024’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County, California during early October 2012 and planted approximately four to five days later in Ventura County, California. The approximate age of the observed plants is six months. Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the 2010 through 2013 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, London (2007).

The following tables 3 through 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower, and pest and disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘BG-6.3024’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Color of mature fruit RHS 46B, red Color of internal flesh RHS 45C, medium red Color of core RHS 39B, medium red Fruit length (cm)    4.8 Fruit width (cm)    4.1 Fruit size Very large Fruit length/width ratio    1.17, slightly longer than broad Calyx diameter (cm)    5.7 Average fruit weight (gm)   30.6 Achene color, shaded side RHS 153B, yellow green group Achene color, sun-exposed side RHS 185A, greyed purple group Achene weight (mg)    0.63 Average achenes per berry   324 Marketable fruit yield (gm/plant) 1,365 Predominant fruit shape Conical Difference in shapes between primary None or very slight and secondary fruit Band without achenes Narrow Unevenness of fruit surface Absent or very weak Evenness of fruit color Ranges from slightly uneven to even Fruit glossiness Ranges from medium to strong Insertion of achenes Level with surface Insertion of calyx Ranges from in the basin to level Attitude of calyx Ranges from spreading to reflexed Size of calyx in relation to Ranges from slightly larger to fruit diameter much larger Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness of fruit flesh Medium Distribution of red color of the flesh Marginal and central Hollow center expression Moderate Fruit flavor Excellent Soluble solids (% brix)    8.9 Time of first flowering Ranges from early to medium Time of first harvesting Ranges from early to medium Harvest period January to May Harvest maturity Mid season Type of bearing Not remontant (short day)

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Plant height (cm) 23.7 Plant spread (cm) 31.3 Plant size Ranges from medium to large Plant habit Upright Plant density Ranges from medium to dense Plant vigor Strong

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Stolon color RHS 146C, yellow green group Stolon anthocyanin coloration RHS 184B, greyed red group Stolon anthocyanin intensity Strong Average stolon quantity Medium Stolon diameter at bract (mm) 3.5, ranges between medium and thick Stolon pubescence Dense Attitude of hairs Slightly outward

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Foliage: Color of upper surface RHS N137C, ranges from medium green to dark green Color of underside RHS 147C, yellow green group Number of leaflets 3-4 Shape in cross section Slightly concave Interveinal blistering Medium Leaf glossiness Medium Leaf variegation Absent Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm)  7.5 Width (cm)  7.0 Leaf size Medium Length/width ratio  1.08, longer than broad Shape of base Obtuse Shape of teeth Rounded Serrations per leaf 20.3 Petiole: Petiole color RHS 145A, yellow green group Petiole length (cm) 13.5 Petiole diameter (mm)  3.8 Petiolule color RHS 145A, yellow green group Petiolule length (mm)  7.7 Attitude of hairs Strongly outward Petiole pubescence Ranges from heavy to moderate Stipule: Color RHS 146C, yellow green group Anthocyanin coloration RHS 58A, red purple group Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from medium to strong Length (mm) 17.4 Width (mm) 11.8

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Anthocyanin coloration RHS 181C, greyed red group Anthocyanin intensity Ranges from weak to medium Length at maturity (cm) 26.8 Position relative to foliage Ranges from beneath to level with Number of flowers Medium Pedicel attitude of hairs Strongly outward Pubescence Strong Attitude at first pick Prostrate

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Petal color RHS NN155C, white group Sepal color RHS 137A, green group Receptacle color RHS 147C, yellow green group Anther color RHS 14A, yellow orange group Corolla diameter (mm) 29.1, large Calyx diameter (mm) 36.3 Petal length (mm) 11.2 Petal width (mm) 11.5 Petal length/width ratio  0.97, as long as broad Petals per flower  5.6 Sepal length (mm) 15.3 Sepal width (mm)  6.5 Sepal length/width ratio  2.36 Sepals per flower 11.2 Size of calyx relative to corolla Larger Relative position of petals Ranges from touching to overlapping Stamen Present Size of inner calyx relative to outer calyx Smaller

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS Characteristic ‘BG-6.3024’ Powdery mildew Moderately susceptible Verticillium wilt Moderately susceptible Angular leaf spot Susceptible Botrytis fruit rot Moderately susceptible Two-spotted spider mite Moderately susceptible 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘BG-6.3024’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above. 